Usdaw launches new website to demystify pensions for Britain’s shopworkers
Retail union Usdaw is launching a new website dedicated to demystifying the hugely complicated pensions world for millions of Britain’s shopworkers.
The new pension information centre at www.usdaw.org.uk/pensions was launched after retail staff complained they didn’t fully understand how their pensions worked or what income they might expect when they come to retire.
“Our members told us very clearly that they often didn’t know where to go for the basics let alone the more complex information that they need to understand how their pensions work,” says Usdaw general secretary John Hannett. “Our core belief is that all workers have the right to a comfortable pension in retirement and this site will help our members decide what the best options are for their old age.
“The site is run by the union’s own in-house pension experts so they have intimate knowledge of the retail pension world which I believe will be invaluable for our members who contribute to company pension schemes. We want them to know what they can expect when they come to retire and, if there are any changes to how their pension fund works, they will be able to understand what it means for their retirement.
“The Government says that a staggering 4.5 million people who work for employers that run pensions schemes do not save in them. Company pension schemes are often the best option for retail workers and our site will be encouraging our members to sign up once they have investigated, via the website, how good or bad the scheme is.
“There’s no doubt pensions is the main area where our members have huge concerns and this site will allow them to access a whole range of information from the very basics about how their own pensions work to the latest information on changes the Government are proposing to state pensions that will impact on Britain’s 2.7 million retail workers.”
